Meta patents AI to post as dead users but won't build it

Meta patents AI for posthumous social media

Meta has secured a patent for an AI system designed to simulate a person's social media activity after they have died. The patent, granted in December and first filed in 2023 by Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth, outlines a large language model (LLM) that would post on a user's behalf.

A company spokesperson told Business Insider that Meta no longer plans to develop this specific concept. However, the patent filing describes a tool for users with strong social media presences, like influencers, who want to take a break from posting.

How the proposed AI would work

The AI would be trained on a person's past posts, interactions, and digital data. It could then generate new comments, likes, and even simulate video or audio calls with followers across Meta's platforms.

"The impact on the users is much more severe and permanent if that user is deceased and can never return to the social networking platform," the patent filing states. The system was framed as a way to maintain engagement for an account holder who is absent.

The growing 'deadbot' industry

Meta is not the first tech giant to explore this concept. Microsoft patented a similar chatbot model in 2021 but later scrapped the idea, with leadership calling it "disturbing."

Instead, a market of startups has emerged, offering AI-powered afterlife services. This new industry includes companies like:

• Replika AI, known for companion chatbots
• 2wai, which creates digital avatars

These services create what are often called "deadbots" — LLM-powered chatbots designed to mimic deceased individuals.

Ethical and legal scrutiny

The rise of deadbots has drawn criticism from multiple fields. Legal professionals, creatives, and grief experts have all raised concerns about the ethical and social ramifications of popularizing digital versions of the dead.

Key issues include:

• Consent and the rights of the deceased
• The potential psychological impact on grieving friends and family
• The legal status of a person's digital likeness after death

Protecting digital likenesses

Public figures are already taking steps to control their posthumous digital presence. Celebrities like Matthew McConaughey have trademarked their appearances and voices to prevent unauthorized AI use after their death.

Estate planning experts are urging the general public to consider similar protections. They recommend that individuals set clear, legally binding parameters in their wills regarding the use of their likeness, voice, and data by AI systems.

The Meta patent, while currently shelved, highlights how quickly this speculative technology is moving from concept to a pressing legal and ethical frontier.